Wednesday, October 18, 2017

SURIGAO CITY, Oct. 18 (PIA) – A total of 12,873
backpacks containing school supplies, reading materials, books, grooming items,
health stuff and personal hygiene kits were distributed to pre-schoolers and
grade one pupils in public schools across Surigao del Norte province during the
Education Caravan 2017.

The series of caravans covering the schools in
mainland and island barangays is a priority initiative of Surigao del Norte
Governor Sol Matugas.

Matugas was a former Regional Director of
Department of Education (DepEd) Caraga and is still deeply committed to help
shape the future of young individuals.

“We have to invest something in our youth because
they are the stakeholders and prime movers of tomorrow. It’s important for us
to address the needs of the schoolchildren and proactively contribute anything
that would put a smile on their face by providing some of their necessities,”
said Matugas.

In the mainland, a total of 5,804 backpacks were
received by pre-schoolers. There were 326 school bags for the municipality of
Sison, 554 in Placer, 333 in Tagana-an, 361 in Tubod, 286 in Bacuag, 305 in San
Francisco, 460 in Malimono, 427 in Alegria, 862 in Claver, 1325 in Gigaquit,
281 in Mainit District I and 284 in Mainit District 2.

In Siargao, around 3,990 backpacks were also
received by school children, while more or less 3,079 backpacks were
distributed to public schools in the city.

Matugas, together with Vice Governor Arturo Carlos
Egay, Jr., strengthened their shared advocacy in line with HEALS Plus (Health,
Education and Environment, Agri-Aquaculture, Livelihood and Tourism and Social
Service, Spirituality, Senior Citizens and Security) program, the flagship agenda
of the provincial government.

The caravan wrapped up at General Luna Central
Elementary School. The pupils, together with their parents and teachers, gladly
expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the lady governor and her company.
(VLG/PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

SSS cites higher benefits from coverable income
adjustment

SURIGAO CITY, Oct. 18 – Social Security System
(SSS) said the estimated monthly pension of a member with at least 30 paying
years will increase to P20,300 from the current maximum pension of P10,900 by
2026, if the coverable income increases to P30,000 in five years as part of its
proposed reform agenda.

Benefits such as maternity, sickness and funeral,
which are also computed based on the monthly salary credit (MSC), will also
increase once the reform agenda is implemented.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel
F. Dooc said the success of the proposed SS Reform Act of 2017, which is
currently being deliberated at the committee level in the Senate, will improve
the benefits for members and pensioners.

“The estimated pension could increase to as much as
P20,300 by 2026. As we have proposed earlier, the adjustment in MSC should
increase gradually every year, starting with P20,000 next year, P25,000 in
2020, and P30,000 in 2021. As we increase the coverable income or the MSC, the
benefits also increase because this is the basis for the computation of SSS
benefits,” Dooc said.

He explained that benefits are computed based on
the member's MSC and credited years of service (CYS) or the number of years he
paid SSS contributions.

Under the current maximum MSC of P16,000 and
monthly contribution rate of 11 percent (shared by employer and employee for
employed members), the maximum basic monthly pension is only P10,900 for a member
who retires with at least 30 CYS.

With the contribution rate increase and MSC ceiling
adjustment to P30,000, sickness benefit per day of P480 based on the current
maximum average daily salary credit of P533 will increase to P900.

Likewise, maternity benefits for caesarian delivery
will increase from P41,600 to P78,000 while those who will undergo normal birth
will get P60,000 from the current P32,000 under the proposed P30,000 maximum
MSC.

Moreover, funeral benefit due from a member's
account with at least 120 contributions at P30,000 MSC six months before death
will increase to P38,000 from the current P29,600.

Dooc earlier expressed his hopes that the
contribution increase will be implemented by January 2018, after the
implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) bill
and the passage of the SS Reform Act of 2017.

“We are really hoping for the passage of this bill,
which according to Senator Gordon is a landmark bill. This will not only ensure
the viability of the pension fund for the current and future members but it
will also improve the benefits being enjoyed by our contributing-members. For a
minimal increase in their monthly contribution, a potful will be added to their
benefits and pension,” Dooc said.

He said the economic managers in the Cabinet
maintained that additional contributions are necessary to keep the state fund
running, even with the pension increase. (SSS/PIA-Surigao del Norte)